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PREVENTING THE PROLIFERATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS

Since the advent of the nuclear age, the United States has been dedicated to preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons.  In order to stop the spread of nuclear weapons-related technology, Congress gave the Atomic Energy Commission (now the Department of Energy [DOE]), authority to control nuclear weapons-related information.  This task has gained even greater importance in recent years with an increasing number of nations seeking to gain nuclear weapons or improve existing capabilities, and the growing potential for nuclear terrorism. The United States must ensure adversaries cannot obtain the information, technology, or materials that will assist them to carry out attacks. While it is important to have adequate protection systems in place, the first step to ensure our success in preventing such attacks is identifying what must be protected.

DOE has the unique responsibility of identifying nuclear weapons-related information that must be protected in order to prevent adversaries from developing weapons of mass destruction. The Department develops and issues Government-wide and Department-wide policies and technical guidance to ensure that classified and other information assets critical to national security and to other Governmental, commercial or private interests are identified for proper protection.

DOE develops and interprets Government-wide and Department-wide policies, procedures and guidance ensure the accurate identification of information and documents that must be classified or controlled under statute or Executive order to protect the National Security.

DOE provides classification training for DOE persons with access to classified information and DOE classification officials.  DOE also provides training materials to non-DOE  agency personnel to assist agencies in meeting the requirements of Title 10 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1045, Nuclear Classification and Declassification and the Special Historical Records Review Plan.  The training ensures persons with access to and who review matter for RD, FRD, or TFNI, are aware of the unique requirements of this information; that RD, FRD, and TFNI, are correctly identified; and classification and declassification reviews are conducted by the appropriate officials.  These requirements lessen the risk of the unauthorized disclosure of nuclear weapons-related information.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

Classification’s Outreach Program at (301) 903-7567 or outreach@hq.doe.gov